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Romney Says Obama Ad ‘Got Under Their Skin’

By Jeff Zeleny November 23, 2011 5:29 pmNovember 23, 2011 5:29 pm

DES MOINES – Mitt Romney defended his campaign’s first television commercial that takes President Obama’s words out of context over his handling of the economy, gleefully telling reporters on Wednesday: “We obviously got under their skin.”

On a campaign visit to Iowa, Mr. Romney used a Thanksgiving analogy to push back against a torrent of criticism from Democrats and independent fact-checkers who said the ad distorted Mr. Obama’s comments while campaigning in 2008 when he said, “If we keep talking about the economy, we’re going to lose.”

At the time, Mr. Obama was quoting a statement that his Republican rival, Senator John McCain, had made on the economy. But that point was not included in the ad that is airing this week in New Hampshire.

The commercial was judged by PolitiFact, a non-partisan campaign watchdog, as “ridiculously misleading.” The president’s re-election campaign and Democrats called it deceitful and dishonest.

Mr. Romney, who has sharpened his tone against Mr. Obama and pledged to “take it to them, day in and day out,” disagreed.

“There was no hidden effort on the part of our campaign,” he said. “It was instead to point out that what’s sauce for the goose is now sauce for the gander.”

As a puzzled look fell over the eyes of a few reporters at a press conference, Mr. Romney added: “This ad points out that guess what? It’s now your turn. The same lines that you used on John McCain are now going to be used on you.”

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